Banjo-support



H. M. COX.

BANJO SUPPORT. APPLICATION FILED 1Au.11,1919.

Patentd iune 1, 1920.

- 3 SHEETSSHEET I.

24 q /4 /7 /8 3 2 29 3 INVENTOR moans/ah H. M. COX.

BANJO SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED IAN. i7, 1919.

Patented June 1, 1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED STATES PATFNT OFFICE.

HARRYM. COX, 0]? NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T0 JOHN M. COX, 0F PASSAIC, NEW JERSEY.

BANJO-SUPIORT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY M. G021, a citizen of the United States, residing at Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Banjo-Supports; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The present invention relates, generally, to a novel device in the form of a support for musical instruments; and this invention' has reference, more particularly, to a novel support to be attached upon the back of a banjo, with a view of providing a support which is adapted to be carried upon the lap of the performer for easily maintaining the angular and a correct position of the banjo, when playing the instrument, and also to provide an attachment or sup port which holds the banjo in such a 1nanner that the tones will be greatly increased and an improvement in the sound will be produced, the tones while being increased in volume being also mellowed.

The present invention, therefore, has for its principal objects to provide a supporting attachment or means, which is easily and quickly secured upon the back of the head or drum of the banjo, the device serving primarily to support the banjo at the proper and correct angle upon the lap of the operator or player, so as to produce the best musical effects.

The invention has for its further object to provide a banjo-supporting device or attachment of the general character hereinafter more fully set forth. which can be adjusted to any style or make of banjo, which will hold the instrument firm and in the proper position for playing, and which will prevent the wear upon the clothes or garments of the performer. Many other features and objects of the present invention not at this time more particularly enumerated will be clearly understood from the following detailed description of the present invention.

With the various objects of the present inventionin View, the said invention con- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1920.

Serial No. 271,630.

sists, primarily, in the novel banjo support hereinafter more fully set forth; and, the invention consists, more particularly, in the general arrangements and combinations of the several devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, all of which will be more fully described in the following specification, and then finally embodied in the clauses of the claim which are appended to and which form an essential partof the said specification.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of'a banjo mounted in position upon a banjo-support made according to and embodying the principles of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the banjo and said support showing the latter in its attached position upon the back or bottom of the head or drum of the banjo, said section being represented as taken on line -22 in said Fig. 1, and said view being made on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the attachment when detached from the head or drum of the banjo, showing the articulating members of the same in their fully opened-out relation; and Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vertical section of the device, said view however representing the members in their closed or folded relation.

Fig. 5 is a detail longitudinal vertical section of the device, made on a still larger scale, said section being taken on line 5-5 in said Fig. 3 said view illustrating more particularly the folded or closed down position of one of the clip-engaging loops of the attachment; and Fig. 6 is a similar sectional representation of the same parts, but showing the said clip-engaging loop in its raised position.

Fig. 7 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 77 in said. Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows in said Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a similar sectional representation, taken on line 88 in said Fig. (3, looking in the direction of the arrows in said Fig. 6.

Fig. 9 is a plan View of a modified construction of banjo-support, detached from the head or drum of the banjo, the articulating members thereof being shown in their fully opened-out relation; Fig. 10 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, illustrating one angular relation of said articulating members; and Fig. 11 is a transverse vertical section, taken on line 11-11 in said Fig. 10, said view being made on an enlarged scale.

Similar characters of reference are employed in said above described views, to indicate corresponding parts.

Referring now to the said drawings, the reference-charactcr 1 indicates the head or drum and 2 the fingerboard of a banjo, the head comprising the usual ring 3 carrying the usual clips 4: provided with the adjusting nuts 5.

The banjosupport illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, and which illustrates one embodiment of the principles of the present invention, is indicated in general by the reference-character 6, and the same comprises two members 7 and 8 of wood, metal, or any other suitable material, which are pivotally connect d by means of suitable hinges 9, or any other suitably constructed means of pivotal connection, so as to be angularly adjusted, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, or to be brought into a straightened-out or folded relation as shown in the respective Figs. 3 and 1.

The members 7 and 8 are each formed with a longitudinally extending depression or cutout portion, as 10, and the shouldered portions or offsets 11, providing suitable stops, suitably formed cut-out portions being also provided between said shoulders or oil'- sets 11. Pintle-recciving de n'esiions, as 13, are also provided, as shown. Each member 7 and 8 is also provided with a plate lei; disposed above each longitudinally extending depression or cut-out portion 10, said plates being secured in place by means of screws 15, or other suitable fastening means, and each plate 1'-lbeing made with an elongated slot or opening 16 which in its entirety, or in a portion thereof is of such width, so as to expose the upper surtace-portions oi the said shoulders or off-sets 11, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. lVhen said plates 1% have been secured in position, the said plates will close the upper open portions of the previously mentioned depressions 18, for the pivoted retention in the oppositely disposed receiving sockets thus provided of the pintle-members or end-pivots 1.8 of suitably formed clip-engaging loops or clamps 17, as clearly indicated in F 3, 7 and E of the drawings. When viewed from the side, each loop or clamp 17 is substantially oi? an 3-shaped or zig-zag configuration, the shape of each loop or clamp being such that it can be turned down into the cut-out portions and 12, as shown in Figs. 4, 5 and 7, for bringing the members 7 and 8 into their closed relation; 01', for causing the portions 19 of said loops, when the latter are raised,

to rest upon the stops or shoulders 1.1, as indicated in Figs. 6 and 8 of the drawings.

To retain the two members '7 and 8 in a suitably desired angular relation, according to the size and style of the banjo to which it is to be attached, I have provided a suitably formed retaining device in the form of a turnbuckle 20 provided with a manipulating means or lingerpieces 21, said turn-bin lile being internally screw-threaded with right and lefthand screw-threads for the ad justable arrangement and connection with the respective ends of the turn-buckle ot correspondingly screw-threaded tie-rods 22 and One of said rods, as 22, is made with an eye, as 2 1, loosely connected with the loop or eye 26 of a screw-eye 25, or similar tt'astening or attaching means mounted upon the member 8, the other rod 23 being made with a hook-shaped end-portion 27, adapted to engage the edge-portion 28 of the previously mentioned plate 10 which is secured to the member 7.

Upon their opposite and outer faces the said members 7 and 8 are preferably lined with facings 29 of felt or other similar material.

Having in the above described the general construction of the banjo-support illustrated in said Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive of the drawings, I will now briefly set forth its manner of attachment to the back oi. the head or drum of the banjo.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 2 ol' the drawings, one 01 each plurality ol loops or clamps of tho articula t "d members '7 and 8 are brought into raised positions, the loops selected being a :cording to the size oi" the ring 3 of the head or drum 1, and the directly oppositely and diametrically disposed elips 1 to be engaged by the said loops or clamps. The two members 7 and 8 are now brought into proper angular relation against the back o:t' the head oi the banjo, and the respective loops or clamps 17 are slipped over the respective nuts of the respective clips 4;. The hook-shaped end-portion 27 of the tie-rod 23 is now fitted over the edge-portion 28 of the plate 10 and by proper manipulation of the turn-buckle 20, the tie-rods 22 and 23 are drawn together so that a firmly clamped relation of the raised loops 17 with the nuts or heads of the respective clips 4 will be produced, and where by the banjo-support will be positively secured upon the back of the head oil the instrument, against accidental eisplacement, as will be clearly evident from an inspection of said 2 of the drawings. The banjo, with the support thus secured thereto, is now used in the usual manner, by resting the member '7 upon the lap of the performer, the principal result being that the instrument is at all times maintained without difficulty in the desired angular position upon the lap, to

provide the best musical effects, when playing, and with the least fatigue to the performer. Furthermore, the nature of the soft facing of that member 7 which rests upon the lap of the performer, minimizes the wear of the performers garment, the said memher 7 preventing the contacting of the sharp parts of the clip 4 or the edge of the ring 3 from being brought into contact with the garment, as heretofore.

In lieu of the construction of banjo-support described in the foregoing specification and illustrated in Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, the device or attachment may be made in the manner of the construction shown in Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings.

In said figures of the drawings, the attachment consists of two articulating members 30 and 81, made of wood, metal, or other suitable material, said members being provided with the longitudinally extending slots or openings 82, each member having secured upon its outer face, by means of screws 33, or other suitable fastening means, countersunk plates 34, for closing said openings. The said members 30 and 31 are pivotally connected by means of hinges 35, or other suitable means of pivotal connection, and upon their outer faces the said members 30 and 31, and the plates 34 are covered with facings 36 of felt, or similar material. Each member 30 and 31 is also provided with laterally extending pintle-receiving portions, as 37, in which are pivotally disposed the oppositely disposed pintle-ends or fingers 39 of suitably shaped loops or clamps, as 38, which are adapted to be brought into retaining engagement with the oppositely disposed banjo-clips in the manner herein-above described.

The means for maintaining the angular arrangement of the two members 30 and 31 and their fixed clamped position upon the back of the head of the banjo is similar to the construction described in connection with Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawings, and the same consists, essentially, of a turn-buckle 40 which is provided with suitable fingerpiecos 41, or other means of manipulation, the said turn-buckle having operatively con nected with its respective ends, by right and left-handed screw-portions, tie-rods 42 and 43, one of which, as 42, is provided upon its free end with an eye 44, and the other rod 43 being formed upon its free end-portion with a hook-shaped end-member 45. The said rod 42 is connected by means of its eye 44 with a screw-eye 46 secured to said member 31, and the hook-shaped end-member 45 of the rod 43 is adapted to be hooked over a loop, as 47, which is pivotally connected with the member 30 by means of pintle-ends or fingers 48, as will be clearly understood from an inspection of Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings.

The manner of securing the device or at tachment upon the back of the head of the banjo is similar to that described in connec tion with the construction illustrated in said Figs. 1 to 8 inclusive, and will be clearly understood from an inspection of said Figs. 9, 10 and 11 of the drawings. Any further description of the same is therefore deemed unnecessary.

I am fu ly aware, that changes may be made in the general arrangements and combinations of the various devices and parts, as well as in the details of the construction of the said parts, without departing from the scope of the'present invention as described in the foregoing specification, and as defined in the clauses of the claims which are appended thereto. Hence, I do not limit my invention to the exact arrangements and combinations of the said devices and parts as described in said specification, nor do I confine myself to the exact details of the construction of the said parts, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim 1. -A banjo-support adapted to be carried upon the lap of the performer for correct positioning of the instrument comprising a pair of angularly disposed members adapted to be disposed upon the back of the head of the banjo, and means connec ed with said members for attaching said members to the clips of the banjo and securing said support in a fixed position upon the back of said head.

2. A. banjo-support adapted to be carried.

upon the lap of the performer for correct positioning of the instrument comprising a pair of angularlydisposed members adapted to be disposed upon the back of the head of the banjo, facings of felt upon the outer faces of said members, and means connected with said members for attaching said members to the clips of thebanjo and securing said support in a fixed position upon the back of said head.

3. A banjo-support adapted to be carried upon the lap of the performer for correct positioning of the instrument comprising a pair of angularly disposed members adapted to be disposed upon the back of the head of the banjo, clip-engaging loops connected with said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of said head, and means connecteduvith said angularly disposed members for producing a clamped relation of said loops with said clips and to secure said members in a fixed position upon the back of said head.

4. A banjo-support adapted to be caried upon the lap of the performer for correct positioning of the instrument comprising a pair of angularly disposed members adapted to be disposed upon the back of the head of the banjo, clip-engaging loops connected with said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of said head, means connected with said angularly disposed members for producing a clamped relation of said loops with said clips and to secure said members in a fixed position upon the back of said head, and facings of felt upon the Iguter faces of said angularly disposed memers.

5. A support comprising a pair of members, a means of pivotal connection between said members, and means connected with said members for angularly attaching the same to the clips of the banjo and securing said support in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo.

6. A support comprising a pair of members, a means of pivotal connection between said members, means connected with said members for angularly attaching the same to the clips of the banjo and securing said support in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo, and facings of felt upon the outer faces of said members.

7. A support comprising a pair of members, a means of pivotal connection between said members, clip-engaging loops connected with said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of said head, and means connected with said members for producing a clamped relation of said loops with said clips and to secure said members angularly in a fixed position upon the back of the head. of the banjo.

8. A support comprising a pair of members, a means of pivotal connection between said members, clip-engaging loops connected with said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of said head, means connected with said members for producing a clamped relation of said loops with said clips and to secure said members angularly in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo, and facings of felt upon the outer faces of said members.

9. A support comprising a pair of members, a means of pivotal connection between said members, means connected with said members for attaching the same upon the back of the head of the banjo, and means for adjusting the angular relation of said members and securing the same in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo, consisting of a turnbuckle, a pair of tie-rods movably connected with the ends of said turn-buckle, means connected with one of said rods for attaching said rod to one of said members, and means connected with the other tie-rod for detachable connection with the other member.

10. A support comprising a pair of members, a means of pivotal connection between said members, clip-engaging loops connected with said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of the head of the banjo, and means for adjusting the angular relation of said members and securing the same in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo, consisting of a turn-buckle, a pair of tie-rods movably connected with the ends of said turnbuckle, means connected with one of said rods for attaching said rod to one of said members, and means connected with the other tie-rod for detachable connection with the other member.

11. A tone-improver and positioning means for banjos comprising a pair of members, each member being formed with an elongated opening, a means of pivotal connection between said members, clip-engaging loops pivotally mounted in the openings of said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of the head of the banjo, and means connected with said pivotally connected members for adjusting the angular re lation of said. members and securing the same in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo.

12. A support comprising a pair of members, each member being formed with an elongated opening, a means of pivotal connection between said members, clip-engaging loops pivotally mounted in the openings of said members, said loops being adapted to be brought into engagement with some of the banjo-clips of the head of the banjo, and means connected with said pivotally connected members for adjusting the angular relation of said members and securing the same in a fixed position upon the back of the head of the banjo, consisting of a turnbuckle, a pair of tie-rods movably connected with the ends of said turn-buckle, means connected with one of said rods for attaching said rod to one of said members, and means connected with the other tierod for detachable connection with the other member.

In testimony that I claim the invention set forth above I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of January, 1919.

HARRY M. COX.

\Vitnesses FREDK C. F RAENTZEL, BARBARA lV. SU'rTnnLiN. 

